Texas A &M University, Corpus Christi, economics Professor Valrie Chambers says she's surprised. Chambers says she read no warnings that payments options would affect the arrival of your stimulus check. I.R.S. representatives said, "If someone opted to have their refund check sent by direct deposit.

But then has the filing or tax preparation fees deducted from the refund. They will be getting a paper check and need to look at the paper distribution schedule." Paper checks do not even begin arriving until tomorrow, and will continue to be sent until the middle of July.

It's estimated that 60 percent of American use electronic filing tools, so millions could be left waiting for the stimulus checks they thought would simply appear in their bank accounts.

3 News has also learned, your payment may not be sent to you directly, but to your preparer, who then has the responsibility of issuing you a check, after deducting their fee.

How long will you have to wait? That depends on the last 2 digits of your social security number. That's how the mailing schedule is determined.